Chula Vista moves toward project development

CHULA VISTA  A mixed-use project proposed for the Eastlake III community is one step closer to reality despite objections from some residents who say that adding housing there will make the neighborhood too dense.

The majority of the Chula Vista City Council voted Tuesday to move forward with plans for the Lake Pointe Project.

Council members approved a tentative subdivision map, design review permit and posted security for an affordable housing obligation between the city and Olympic Parkway Project LLC.

Developer Integral Communities will subdivide a 12.2-acre site into four lots containing 221 residential condo units for individual ownership and two commercial buildings. The site is on the north side of Olympic Parkway, between Olympic Vista Road, Wueste Road and Lake Crest Drive.

The project will include two-story garden homes and three-story courtyard homes, 15,000 square feet of retail and commercial use adjacent to the Olympic Training Center, 618 residential and commercial parking spaces, 28 parking spaces in Mountain Hawk Park, a 22 percent decrease in density from earlier plans and a switch from rental units to residences that will be available for sale.

Chula Vista City Councilwoman Patricia Aguilar voted in favor of the map and affordable housing obligation, but opposed the design review permit.

“When the City Council decides to change the general plan I think it’s important to make that change in a way that’s least impactful to the people who bought their houses on a different set of assumptions,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar also cited a cost concern.

“During the first year of the project it would cost the city much more than it would bring in,” she said.

Future revenues in 2012 dollars range from $34,476 annually in the first year and increase to $201,025 at build out. In addition, expenditures are projected at less than $62,000 in the first year and increase to nearly $200,000 at build out.

City staff and Integral Communities held numerous public meetings to address concerns, which included overcrowding related to parking and schools.

“We met with the Neighborhood Market Association, (Chula Vista) chamber of commerce, Kiwanis club…” said Lance Waite of Integral Communities. “We’ve also held 10 small group meetings with various groups of the neighborhood.”

Councilman Rudy Ramirez, who opposed the entire project, said it’s not a matter of quantity, but substance.

“The applicant no doubt has gone through hoops,” Ramirez said. “They made a very good effort at addressing a lot of the concerns.”

However, he added that proposed developments should bring benefits, not loss.

“It’s necessary for us to be able to make that case in order for us to justify that change,” Ramirez said. “I don’t think this is the best that we can do and for that reason I will not be supporting the project.”

At an initial public hearing for the project last September, dozens of public speakers spoke against proposed amendments to rezone the land from commercial to mixed-use, which council members ultimately approved, with Aguilar opposed.

During a second community meeting on Nov. 29, approximately 60 residents requested the council revert the plan to its previous commercial zoning designation.

Then, Integral Communities proposed building 284 condos and 10,000 square feet of retail space, but revised the plan after meeting with community members.

City planners originally envisioned an Olympic Village-themed commercial center with shops and restaurants.

During public comment this week, community members expressed their continued lack of support.

“Unfortunately I feel like this is a beautiful Band-Aid that you’re trying to put on a gushing wound,” Silverstein said. “I think it will bring a lot of density to the area.”

Assistant City Manager Gary Halbert said the higher density is consistent with the density of surrounding projects.

Eastlake Vistas resident Oralia Nabizadeh said she resented being included after the fact.

“The community and I were not taken into consideration when we bought into the master plan,” Nabizadeh said. “We pay a lot of money on our taxes to live in those conditions. We deal with overcrowded schools, streets, parks — these are all the issues that we face every single day.”

Others were happy with the concessions.

Jason Rissman applauded council members for their dedication to the project and professionalism in facing what he called an “onslaught of residents.”

“For me, personally, I think Integral has made some considerable changes, my favorite one is the transition from to rental property to a sales property,” Rissman said.